Back to life, back to reality.

I'm blogging from the gate at SFO, on my way back up to Carson City.

It's been a really good last 12 days in the Bay Area (though I did miss Mr. TPG quite a bit - the fall back in D.C. will be brutal!). I managed to maintain sanity throughout the bar exam days, though who knows whether I passed since results don't come out until November. There were 1,200+ people in the one testing room at the Oakland Convention Center, and the feeling of being herded like cattle did make me giggle inside a few times. The best thing, though, was staying at the hotel where the test was. I was able to escape from the masses of people and refocus, do some yoga stretches, and watch a How I Met Your Mother episode during my breaks. Definitely helped me to remain calm.

Since the test ended, I've just been seeing family and friends and eating. Saw my grandparents, uncle & aunt, cousin, family friends, and my best gal pals. Got to attend one of my college friend's bridal shower and bachelorette night on the town. It was fabulous being back in my favorite city and seeing so many friends. Every time I'm back in the Bay Area I'm reminded of how much I love it (and I hope to move back - for at least a few years - at some point in the future). There's something so comforting about the cityscape, the beautiful bay waters, the fog rolling into SF, and all of the fun neighborhoods of the East Bay where I grew up.

It was a delicious 12 days, and here's what I filled my stomach with (or the places I can remember at the moment):
- Dim sum #1 at Hong Kong Flower Lounge in Millbrae, right after I landed at SFO.
- Vietnamese bun at Pho Hoa-Thai in Richmond.
- Sushi (well, chirashi for me) at Sugata in Albany.
- Dim sum #2 at Saigon in El Cerrito.
- Amazing salmon at Fish & Farm in San Francisco.
- Bagel, cream cheese, lox, cucumber, tomato, and capers 'wich from Noah's Bagels -- there is a serious lacking of bagels in both D.C. and Carson.
- Deep dish pizza from Little Star Pizza in Albany, though I felt bad cheating on my Zachary's Pizza (Mr. TPG and I used to frequent the Divisadero location of Little Star when we lived in SF).
- Brunch (whole wheat pancakes!) at Fat Apples in El Cerrito (one of my childhood homes is a block away from here...so many memories).
- Dinner at Burma Superstar in San Francisco...oh, so ridiculously good.
- Kale and homemade sausage pizza from Gioia in Berkeley - amazing!


Okay, so I didn't think I ate that much, but after reading this list I think I'm going to have to run extra miles at the gym this week...

Back to Carson, back to my healthy diet, and back to the gym!